Record strip aligner for writing machines



Dec. 25, 1934.

L/F. HAGEMANN RECORD STRIP ALIGNER FOR WRITING MACHINES .4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 18, 1951 INVENTOR.

Lou/5 F. HAGEMANN, BYM, e We ATTORNEYS.

Deg. 25, 1934. r

L. F. HAGEMANN RECORD STRIP ALIGNER FOR WRITING MACHINES Filed June 18, 1931 4 She ets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

, Lou/s F. HAGEMANN, BYM, ana

ATTORNEYS.

Dec. 25, 1934. L. F. HAGEMANN 1,985,824

RECORD STRIP ALIGNER FOR WRITING MACHINES I Filed June 18, 1951 4 Sheets-Sfieet s INVENTOR. Lou/5 F HAGEMA NN,

M, aawvrl, ATTORNEYS.

Dec. 25,1934. F. HAGEMANN 1,985,824

RECORD STRIP ALIGNER FOR WRITING MACHINES Filed June 18, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. Lou/s F. HAGEMANN,

M ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 25, 1934 UNITED STATES 1,985,821 RECORD STRIP ALIGNER FOR WRITING MACHINES Louis Fred Hagemann,

Niagara Falls, N. Y., as-

signor to American Sales Book Company, Limited, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, a corporation of Ontario, Canada Application June 18, 1931, Serial No. 545.174

22 Claims.

tion of inscriptions usually made by a. typewriting machine. With reference to some of its more particular aspects the invention deals with improvements in mechanism forpositioning and.

smoothing the record strips in writing position, being disclosed herein as applied to a billing machine of the fiat platen type.

It is a general object of the invention to provide in machines of the class mentioned, an improved strip positioning and smoothing mechanism of simple and practical construction whereby several relatively superposed record strips of the continuous traveller type may be continuously maintained in correctly aligned position upon the writing platen and in smooth flat condition thereon avoiding creases, wrinkles, bulges and similar irregularities in the record strips, thus assuring clear legible inscriptions upon all of the strips.

' Another object of the invention is to provide for machines of the class mentioned a record strip aligning mechanism of improved construction v and operation for individually aligning and tensioning each separate record strip.

Still another object of the invention is to provide for machines of the class mentioned, an improved strip aligning mechanism which will automatically restrain the record strip at points spaced longitudinally thereof and concurrently exert an aligning and tensioning influence upon the strips between the restrained parts thereof.

According to another important feature of the invention one or a plurality of record strips of the continuous traveller type are engaged and restrained by improved automatic gripping means while other parts of the mechanism'engage the strips to position and smooth them :upon the writing platen.

Another feature of the invention relates to an improved mechanism whereby each of a plurality of record strips is individually tensioned and aligned and yieldingly maintained'in aligned position, while at the same time the individual aligners may be actuated in a group for jogging or urging the strips into correctly aligned position. This group actuating device. may also be operated for moving all ofthe strip grippers into strip releasing position convenient for loading or unloading the apparatus or for other purposes.

Stillanother object of'the invention is to provide an improved construction and assembly for record strip aligning mechanism of the class mentioned which, while being effective in operation is simple in construction, is capable of installation on existing machines without mutilation or modiflcation thereof.

Otherobjects of the invention will be in part pointed out in the following detailed disclosure of certain illustrative but preferred'embodiments of the invention, and will be in part obvious in connection therewith.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts, which will be exempli- -fled in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a more complete disclosure of the objects and nature of the invention reference is made to the following detailed description and to the. accompanying drawings in which,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a manifolding record machine of the flat platen type equipped with the invention, parts being omitted and broken away so as to disclose the important features.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of Fig. 1 taken approximately upon the line '2--2.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan showing in greater detail certain parts of the record strip aligning mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a. transverse vertical section taken approximately on the line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, vertical, longitudinal sectional elevation showning one of the record strip aligning bars orv rollers with the associated strip gripping mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, the .parts being shown in a. different operative position.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan similar to Fig. 3 showing another preferred embodiment of the invention,- and Fig. 8 is a side elevation of Fig. 7.

7 It will be observed that the invention closed as being applied to a billing machine of the flat platen type, it being especially well adapted for handling the class of work to which machines of this type are usually, applied. Billingmachines of this general type are well known in the art and need not be described in detail herein except to showthe construction and cooperation of the improvements. These machines are well adapted for heavy billing workparticularly where relatively large numbers of continuous traveler record strips, or work webs. arranged in relative y superposed manifolding relation, are emis dis- A V thereon by the typewriting machine.

ployed. The invention, as applied to such machines, greatly facilitates the handling and positioning of the record strips in correct, smooth, fiat condition for the reception of the inscriptions. The embodiment herein disclosed, is capable. of application to billing machines of existing construction to which it may be readily applied with little effort and with little or no alteration of the structure of the machine.

Referring to the drawings for a. detailed description of the illustrative embodiments, and first to the embodiment of Figs. 1 to fi'inclusive, a supporting framework is indicated generally at 15, being preferably mounted upon an appropriate supporting frame or pedestal which may rest upon the floor in a well known manner, or the framework'may be otherwise supported in horizontal position. This frame 15 includes two longitudinal parallel frame members 16 which may be fitted with rails for supporting a typewriting machine for movement longitudinally of theframe in line spacing direction in a manner well known in the art. Suitable cross frame members or bars 17, as many as desired. may be provided connecting the longitudinal frame members 16, and a flat platen 18 is appropriately supported by the frame, being arranged to support the record strips during inscription There may be as many record strips S as desired for the particular work being performed, only two being shown in Figs. 1 and 2 for the purpose of simplifying the disclosure. These record strips may be of known form preferably as shown of the long continuous traveller type,-

each provided with apertures arranged in a series therealong. As usual there are preferably two'such series of apertures spaced apart laterally of the strips the apertures being spaced longitudinally at regular intervals as disclosed in the Wiswall Patent No. 1,534,478 dated April 21. 1925. The strips are preferably provided with printed blank forms arranged in longitudinal series thereon dividing them into a series of form sheets each of equal length and preferably separated from each other by! transverse weakened severance lines facilitating a severance of the form sheets. These record strips may be conveniently zigzag folded into a supply pack S1 which may be appropriately supported in any convenient manner on or adjacent to the record machine. a

In order to duplicate inscriptions upon lower record strips suitable transfer sheets such as carbon sheets (not shown) may be mounted in any preferred manner upon the machine and arranged above the platen 18-so as to be interleaved into manifolding relation with the record strips S. s arrangement is well known and need not be described in detail.

For convenience of description the endof the machine at the left in Figs. 1 and 2 will be regarded as the front and the opposite end thereof as the rear. It will thus be seen that the record strips are introduced into operative position at the rear of the machine and are led forwardly toward the front thereof into writing position upon the platen 18.

At the front of the machine relatively forwardly of the platen is a strip restraining and controlling mechanism indicated generally at 20. This mechanism may be of any preferred construction and as shown includes a transverse strip engagbar 21 mounted for movement into trip engaging and strip releasing positions. This bar may be in the form of a clamping and tearing bar and formed with apertures or recesses for the reception of the strip aligning pins 22. These pins are preferably two in number spaced apart laterally in accordance With the lateral spacing of the record strip apertures so as to enter the latter for aligning and holding the strips in position. These aligning pins are preferably stationary as shown but may be mounted so as to be depressible. Also, they may be hooked forwardly or be otherwise appropriately formed for retaining the record strips in engagement therewith and for facilitating entry into the strip apertures.

supported by the shaft 24 mounted in the frame 15. Links 25 are pivotally connected at 26 to the frame member 16 and at their opposite ends are respectively connected to the supporting levers 23 by pin and slot connections 27. A trans verse connecting bar 28 connects the supporting links 25 with each other, and a U-shaped operating lever 29 is connected to the bar and has its forward ends underlying the supporting shaft 24 in position to contact therewith. An actuating arm 30 extends from one of the levers 23 to which is connected an actuating spring 31 tensioned so as to tend to move the clamping bar 21 into strip clamping position. This mechanism may be manually actuated in any convenient manner such as shown by means of the operating pedal 32 pivotally mounted in any convenient manner upon the supporting frame or pedestal 15 and A be clampedand supported against the inner faces thereof by means of the supporting clamps 36. It is thus a very simple matter to'install the strip aligning unit in position upon the machine or to remove or adjust it longitudinally or otherwise. Cross supporting bars or frame members 35' are attached to and extend transversely between the side frame members 35.

There is an individual strip aligning and controlling member orunit 3'7 for each record strip, each controlling member being mounted upon the side frame members 35. It will be understood that there may be as many of these individual controlling members as the number of the record strips desired to be employed in the machine; large billing machines may require eight, ten or twelve or even more of these controlling members. Since all of the controlling members are of similar construction, a detailed description of one will suflice.

For each strip controlling member 3'7 there is a rotary shaft 38 mounted in appropriate bearings in the frame members 35 and each carrying upstanding supporting arms 39 spaced near opextremities strip engaging bars or rollers 40,

mounted for free rotation. These strip aligningrollers are thus mounted for rocking or swinging movement with the supporting arms 39, and are connected for rotary movement with the respective shafts 38.

Adjacent and parallel to each aligner shaft 38 is a transverse strip guiding rod 41 also mounted in the side frame members 35. Each of these rods is anchored against rotation preferably by means of anchor members 42 secured to the rod by means of set screws. These anchor members 42 are preferably provided with apertured hubs for receiving the rods 41 and theiropposite ends are provided with seats or bifurcations 43 inv which the adjacent rotary shafts 38 are received, thus anchoring each rod 41 against rotation. These anchor members may also serve as record strip guides being positioned for engagement with the adjacent edges of the strips and being adjustable along the rod 41 for the accommodation of strips of different widths.

At one end each of the supporting shafts 38 is provided with an extension 44 lying beyond the corresponding frame member 35, carrying a lug or collar 45 preferably attached by a set screw and forming an anchor for one end of an actuator spring 46, the opposite end of which may be appropriately anchored in the adjacent frame member 35. This spiral actuator spring is stressed to rotate the shaft 38 together with the corresponding strip engaging roller 40 so as to exert a rearward tension upon the record strip, thus to tension and smooth the latter over the platen. While this mechanism is convenient for biasing the strip aligning roller 40, it will be understood that the form of mechanism disclosed is illustrative only for the accomplishment of its purpose.

Each shaft 38 of each strip aligning and controlling unit 37 is arranged also to control a strip restraining mechanism positioned adjacent thereto. This restraining mechanism in the embodiment shown includes a strip gripper mem- -ber or jaw 47 which may conveniently be in the form of a hollow cylinder or sleeve slid into position upon the shaft and anchored by means of a set screw. The cylindrical gripper jaw 47 has a flattened side or cutaway portion as indi-.

47. The flat side of the jaw 47 is positioned to oppose the adjacent gripping surface of thejaw 49 as clearly shown in Figs. and 6. Also as shown in these figures it 'will be noticed that the strip restraining gripper is positioned beyond or at the rearward of the strip engaging roller 40, in the path of the record strip S. This arrangement enables the strips to be restrained at two points spaced longitudinallythereof, while the aligning bar or roller 40 engages the strip intermediate these points, whereby the desired tensioning and aligning of the strip is very conveniently and effectively performed.

In the preferred modified form of the invention shown in Figs. 7 and 8., the general construction and arrangement of parts are similar embodiment, including a rotary shaft 38 rotatably mounted in the frame members 35. The other structural features of the strip controlling units are also similar to those of the prior embodiment.

However, in order to actuate the strip controlling bars or rollers 40 as a unit or group, or in different groups, an operating mechanism is provided arranged for manual control preferably by connection to the operating pedal 32 by means of an operating link 50 connected at one end to the pedal and at its opposite end to a crank arm 51 attached to an operating shaft 52 rotatably mounted in the side frame members 35. Additional supports 53 for the shaft 52 are shown as connected to the cross frame member 35.

An additional crank arm 54 is mounted upon the shaft 52, having a mounting hub 55 provided with a lug 56 projecting from one side thereof. An operating pin 57 is anchoredto the operating shaft 52 being positioned to contact with the lug 56 to rotate the crank arm 54 when the shaft is rotated in a counterclockwise direction in Fig. 8. This construction permits the shaft 52 to rotate in the opposite direction without corresponding rotation of the crank arm 54.

An operating link 58 is pivoted to the free end of the crank arm 54 extending therefrom longitudinally of the machine adjacent to the roller supporting arms 39 and preferably slidably engaging toward the forward end thereof a support 59 carried by the frame. Adjacent to each supporting arm 39 the operating link 58 carries a pin or lug 60 positioned for contacting with the adjacent face of the'respective supporting arm.

Certain illustrative embodiments of the invention having been set forth in detail, and the general objects and nature of the invention having been stated, the operation of the improved aligning mechanism will be clearly understood by those skilled in' the art, being substantially embodied in the foregoing detailed disclosure,.but

for clearness and emphasis may be summarized as follows:

As many of the record strips S are used as the work in hand demands, these being led from the supply S through the respective grippers 47, 49, over the aligning rollers or bars 40. thence "forwardly over the platen 18, the pedal 32 being depressed during this loading of the machine, thus raising the clamping bar 21 permitting introduction thereunder of the record strips. The carbon sheets which may be supported in any preferred manner are introduced over the platen between adjacent record strips for the purpose of transferring the inscriptions to the record strips positioned below the upper strip. ,When each record strip is introduced between the jaws 47 and 49 of its gripper, the corresponding aligning bar 40 will be moved forwardly as shown in Fig. 6, thus bringing the flattened side 48 of the jaw 47 opposite to the jaw 49 so as'to permit threading of the record strip into position; Each bar 40 maybe moved forwardly individually for this purpose in the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive and also in the embodiment of Figs. 7 and 8, but in the latter embodiment the gripper jaws may be opened by depression of the pedal as will be obvious.

When the record strips are all in position for writing as described, it will be observed that each aligning bar or roller 40 individually engages a record strip which is preferably turned or bent sharply therearou'nd so as to form an angle as shown in Figs. 2, 5 and 6. The springs 46 tend. to move the bars 40 individually against the record strips to individually align, tension and smooth them over the platen 18. As each aligning bar thus moves rearwardly into strip aligning and tensioning position under the influence of its spring 46, the movable gripper jaw 47 is rotated with the shaft 48 to move its cylindrical .separatiorrof the shaft '38 and the bar 41 will ordinarily be very small but it will be suificient to effect the resilient grip and to assure the gripping of each strip without undue refinement of adjustment of the gripper.

When the strips S are placed under the clamping or restraining bar 21, the corresponding strip apertures will be placed over the pins 22 and the hooked or overhanging forward edges of the pins if utilized will aid in retaining the strips in engaging position thereon. In this pin-engaging position each strip is urged rearwardly by the corresponding positioning and aligning bar 40 so that individual aligning and positioning of each strip is assured. It will be noticed that the forward strip restraining device 20 and the grippers 47,. 49 are longitudinallypositioned at opposite sides of the respective aligning bars 40 in the strip path so that each strip may be individually restrained at longitudinally spaced parts thereof during the aligning and positioning action of the aligning bar.

After an inscription has been completed on any given set of blank forms of the record strips, the pedal may be depressed, releasing the bar 21 whereupon all the strips may be grasped at their forward ends and simultaneously forwardly moved to bring the next succeeding set of blank forms into writing position. During this strip movement, the aligning bars 40 will be moved forward slightly against the tension of springs 46 until the gripperswill be released by movement of the movable gripper jaws 47, substantially to the position of Fig. 6, thus releasing the strips to forward feeding movement. When the next succeeding apertures are placed over the pins 22, the pedal may then be released, whereupon the strips are again'individually aligned by action of the aligning mechanism as above described. The new set of blank forms is now in writing position upon the platen and those inscribed may be severed in any desired manner, such for example as tearing them along the weakened. lines against the forward edge of the bar 21.

The operation of the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 7 and 8 may be substantially as above described except that the strip controlling units 37 including the aligning bars 40 and thegrippers 4 7, 49 may be controlled or moved forwardlyby operation of the pedal 32. When the pedal is depressed, it will be seen that the shaft 52 will be rotated to bring the clutch pin 57 into engagement with the clutch lug 56, thus through messes.

the crank arm 54, effecting longitudinal movement of the operating bar 58 and through the lugs 60 and swinging supporting arms 39 effecting actuation of the aligning bars and grippers. The grippers may thus be moved in a group to the release position of Fig. 6. Also the aligning units 3'? may be oscillated back and forth by pedal actuation so as to assure the correct alignment of all of the strips. It will not be necessary ordinarily to effect this group oscillatory actuation of the strip aligners, but it is often very desirable to do this where large numbers of record strips are used, or for other reasons there is some tendency of the strips to get out of proper alignment or to become wrinkled or displaced in such a manner as to impair the highest degree of manifolding accuracy and results.

Although the aligners orcontrols 37 may thus be actuated in one or more groups, yet this actuating mechanism does not interfere with the free individual aligning and positioning actuation of each aligner forwardly of its group controlling lug 60. Iii other words, it will be seen upon reference to Fig. 8, that each aligning bar 40 with its corresponding gripper can move forwardly and also rearwardly within its range of movement forwardly of the corresponding operating lug 60. Also, when the pedal moves to normal under the influence of spring 31, the shaft 52 may move freely with the pedal in this movement without corresponding movement of the group actuating bar 58 by virtue of the clutch connection 56, 57.

Since certain changes may be made in the above construction and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings. shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a record machine, in combination, a strip aligning member mounted for strip-engaging strip-aligning movement, a strip restraining de- -vice positioned in the strip path forwardly of said aligning member and a second strip-restraining device positioned in the strip path rearwardly of said aligning'member, and means automatically controlled by strip tension for releasing one of said restraining devices when strip tension exceeds a predetermined value and for setting it in.

strip restraining condition upon lowering strip tension.

2. In a record machine, in combination, a writing platen for a plurality of relatively superposed record strips, an aligning pin positioned to'enter aligning apertures in said strips, a'plurality of strip engaging strip aligners individually engaging said record strips in their course to said platen, a swinging pivotally supported mounting device mounting each of said aligners for individual oscillatory swinging movement, means for individually biasing each of said aligners for individual movement against the respective record strips to tension and align them upon the platen and gripping means automatically controlled I strip engaging strip aligners individually engaging said record strips in their course to said platen, a swinging mounting device mounting each of said aligners for individual oscillatory swinging movement, means for individually biasing each of said aligners for individual movement against the 1 respective record strips to tension and align them upon the platen, gripping means for gripping and restraining the said strips against longitudinal movement-during the strip aligning action of said aligners, and operative connections between said aligners and gripping means for controlling the strip gripping action of the latter.

4. In a record machine, in combination, a writing platen for a plurality of relativelysuperposed record strips, an aligning pin positioned to enter aligning apertures in said strips, a plurality of strip engaging strip aligners individually engaging said record strips in their course to said platen, a swinging pivotally supported mounting device mounting each of said aligners for individual oscillatory swinging movement, means for individually biasing each of said aligners for individual movement against the respective record strips to tension and align them upon the platen and an individual strip gripper for each oi said, strip aligners automatically controlled by strip tension through operative connections with the respective said aligners for grippingand restraining the said strips against longitudinal movement during strip aligning action of said aligners, said strip grippers being positioned in regard-to the strip path relatively beyond the respective strip aligners fro said aligning pin.

5 In a record machine, in combination, a writing platen for a plurality of relatively superposed record strips, an aligning pin positioned to enter aligning apertures in said strips, a plurality of strip engaging strip aligners individually engaging said record strips in their course to said platen, a swingingmounting device mounting each of said aligners for individual oscillatory swinging movement, means for individually biasing each of said aligners vfor individual movement against the'respective record strips to tension and align them upon the platen, an inbeing positioned in regard to the strip path rel-- atively beyond the respective strip aligners from said aligning pin and operating connections between each of said grippers and the respective strip aligner for individually controlling the strip gripping action of said strip grippers.

' 6. In a record machine, in combination, a writing platen for a plurality of relatively superposed record strips, an aligning pin positioned to enter aligning apertures in said strips, a plurality of transverse'strip engaging strip aligning bars individually engaging said record strips in their course-to said platen, pivotal supports individually supporting said aligning bars for oscillatory swinging movement, means for individually biasing each of said aligning bars for individual movement against the respective strips to tension and align them over the platen, an individual strip gripper for each of said aligning bars for i gripping and restraining the strips against longitudinal movement during the strip aligning action of said aligning bars, said strip grippers being positioned inregard to the strip path relatively beyond the respective aligning bars from said aligning pin and positionedto cause the strips to turn sharply about their respective aligning bars whereby said bars may be swung forwardly by forward pull upon the strips, and means for controlling the strip gripping and restraining action of said grippers by swinging movement of said aligning bars.

7. In a record machine, in combination, a writing platen for a plurality of relatively superposed re cordstrips, an aligning pin positioned to enter aligning apertures in said strips, a plurality oi. strip engaging strip aligners individuallyengaging said record strips in their course to said platen, a swinging mounting device mounting each of said aligners for individual oscillatory swinging movement, means for individually biasing each of said aligners for individual move-- ment against the respective record strips to tension and .align them upon the platen, gripping means for gripping and restraining the said strips against longitudinal movement during the strip aligning action of said aligners and automatic means under individual control of the record strips for controlling said strip gripping means.

8. In a record machine, in combination, a writing platen for acontinuous traveler record strip, forward strip restraining means, a strip engaging strip aligner engaging said record strip in its course to said platen, a mounting device mounting said strip aligner for strip aligning movement, means for biasing said strip aligner for movement against the record strip to position it upon said platen, gripping means positioned in the Strip path to one side of said strip aligner for gripping and restraining said record strip against longitudinal movement during the strip aligning action of said aligner and automatic means under control of the record strip for controlling said strip gripping means.

9. In a record machine, in combination, a writing platen for a continuous traveler record strip, forward strip restraining means, a transverse strip engaging strip aligning bar swingably mounted'for strip aligningmovement, means for biasing said strip aligning bar for movement against the record strip to position it upon said platen, gripping means for gripping and restraining said record strip against longitudinal movement during the strip aligning action of said aligning bar, and automatic means under control of the record strip for controlling said strip gripping means, said automatic means including operative connections between said aligning bar and said gripping means for automatically controlling the latter.

10.'In a record machine, in combination, a writing platen for a continuous traveler record strip, forward strip restraining means, a transverse strip engaging strip aligning bar swingably mounted for strip aligning movement, means for biasing said strip aligning bar for movement against the record strip to position it upon said platen, gripping means for gripping and restraining said record strip against longitudinal movement during the strip aligning action of said aligning bar, automatic means under control of the record strip vfor controlling said strip gripping means, said automatic means including spaced pivotedsupporting arms mounting said aligning bar for swinging movement, a rotary shaft operatively connected to one jaw of said writing platen for a continuous traveler record strip, forward strip restraining means, a strip engaging strip aligner engaging said record strip in its course to said platen, a mounting device mounting said strip aligner for strip aligning movement, means for biasing said strip aligner for movement against the record strip to position it upon said platen, gripping means positioned in the strip path to one side of said strip aligner for gripping and restraining said record strip against longitudinal movement during the strip aligning action of said aligner, automatic means under control of the record strip for controlling said strip gripping means, and an independent operating means for moving said strip aligner in opposition to its biasing means.

12. In a record machine, in combination, a writing platen, forward record strip restraining means, a plurality of strip engaging strip aligners individually engaging said record strips in their courses to said platen, a mounting device for mounting each of said strip aligners for strip aligning movement, means for independently biasing each of said strip aligners for yielding movement against the respective record strip to position it upon said platen, an individual strip gripping means for each of said strip aligners and each record strip for controlling the respective aligning movement,- means for independently biasing each of said strip aligners for yielding movement against the respective record strip to position it upon said platen, an individual strip gripping means for each of said strip aligners and positioned in the strip path to one side of the respective strip aligner for gripping and restraining the respective record strip against longitudinal movement during the strip aligning action of the aligner, automatic means under control of each record strip for controlling the respective strip gripping means, independent group actuating means for said aligners, and operating connections controlled by said group actuating means for setting and releasing said forward strip restraining means.

14. In a record machine, in combination, a plurality of spaced rotary shafts, a strip aligning bar mounted for rotation with each said shaft, means for independently yieldingly biasing each of said aligning bars to effect independent strip alignment, a strip gripping and restraining device for-each ofsaid rotary shafts respectively operatively connected to the latter for gripping and releasing the strips, and operating mechanism for group actuation of said aligning bars in opposition to said yielding biasing means.

15. In a record machine, in combination, a plurality of spaced rotary shafts, a strip aligning bar mounted for rotation with each said shaft, means for independently yieldingly biasing each of said aligning bars to effect independent strip alignment, and a strip gripper for each said aligning bar automatically actuated by movements thereof rality of spaced rotary shafts, a strip aligning bar mounted for rotation with each said shaft, means for independently yieldingly biasing each of said aligning bars to effect independent strip alignment and a strip grippe: for each said aligning bar including a rotary gripper jaw mounted upon the respective rotary shaft.

18. In a record machine, in combination, a plurality of record'strip aligning bars each individually engaging a strip and being mounted for individual swinging strip aligning movements, strip restraining means positioned both forwardly and rearwardly of the said aligning bars for restraining the strips during aligning action of said bars and means controlled by the strip for releasing or setting the said restraining means positioned at one side of said aligning bars.

19. In a record machine, in combination, a strip aligning bar engaging a'strip and being mounted for swinging strip aligning movements, and strip restraining means positioned both forwardly and rearwardly of said aligning bar for restraining the strip during the aligning action of the aligning bar, one of said restraining means including strip aperture engaging pins and the other restraining means including a strip gripper automatically controlled by the strip to grip or release the latter.

20. In a record machine, in combination, a strip aligning member mounted for strip aligning movement, a strip restraining device positioned at one side of the aligning member in the strip path, and means for releasing said restraining device by movement of said aligning member into one position and for setting it in strip restraining posi-. tion by movement of the aligning member into another position.

21. In a record machine, in combination, a strip aligning member mounted for strip aligning movement, a strip restraining device positioned at one side of the aligning member in the strip path, and means automatically controlled by strip tension for setting said restraining device in strip restraining position by movement of said alignmore men HAGEMANN. 

